Two classics from the same year
Reiner Knizia published both in 1999, and both are two-player card games built on coloured suits and numbered cards. That is where the family resemblance ends.
Schotten Totten is a head-on contest. Nine border stones lie between you, and each one is won by building a better three-card formation than your opponent on your side of it. Every card you play is aimed at them.
Lost Cities (Kosmos) is a quieter game of investment. You each build your own expeditions in front of you, and the question is less "can I beat them here?" than "is this expedition worth starting at all?". The tension comes from your own hand and the shrinking deck.
Side by side
| Aspect | Schotten Totten | Lost Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Designer / year | Reiner Knizia, 1999 | Reiner Knizia, 1999 (Kosmos) |
| Cards | 54 (values 1–9, 6 colours) | 60 (values 2–10 plus 3 wager cards, 5 colours) |
| Cards in hand | 6 | 8 |
| On your turn | play a card at a stone, then draw | play or discard a card, then draw from the deck or a discard pile |
| Where cards go | your side of 9 shared stones | your own expeditions, one per colour |
| Card order | any | strictly ascending within an expedition |
| Scoring | win 5 stones, or 3 adjacent | points: card total minus 20, multiplied by wagers |
| Match length | one game | three rounds, scores added |
| Interaction | direct: every stone is contested | indirect: discards your opponent can take |
How they feel at the table
- Schotten Totten is a tug of war. You read your opponent's formations, count the cards still out, and choose the moment to claim a stone, which you may do early only when you can prove they cannot beat you (the claim rule, explained). Every decision is relative to what they hold.
- Lost Cities is push-your-luck. Each expedition you open costs 20 points before it earns any, wager cards double, triple or quadruple the result (losses included), and an expedition of eight or more cards earns a 20-point bonus. You mostly fight the clock: the round ends the moment the last deck card is drawn.
- Information. Both games hide your hand. In Schotten Totten you deduce from the board which formations are still possible (the exact odds); in Lost Cities you watch the discard piles, because anything you throw away your opponent may pick up.
- Pace. Schotten Totten is decided in one tense game. Lost Cities is meant to be played over three rounds, so a bad round can be recovered.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose Schotten Totten if you want direct confrontation and deduction: bluffing with weak cards, racing for the same stone, proving a claim. It suits players who like chess-like duels.
- Choose Lost Cities if you prefer building your own plans, measured risk and a calmer table. It is a classic couples' game for a reason: you play side by side more than against each other.
- Both, if you want two very different Knizia duels on the shelf. They take the same space and rarely compete for the same evening.
Want to try Schotten Totten first? Play it free in your browser against the AI or a friend. New to it? Start with the rules in five minutes. Lost Cities has an official online version on Board Game Arena.
The difference in five lines
- Both are Reiner Knizia two-player card games from 1999, with coloured suits and numbered cards.
- Schotten Totten is a direct fight over nine shared stones; Lost Cities is building your own five expeditions.
- Schotten Totten is won by stones (5 total or 3 adjacent); Lost Cities by points over three rounds.
- Lost Cities is push-your-luck: every expedition starts at minus 20, and wager cards multiply wins and losses.
- Pick Schotten Totten for confrontation and deduction, Lost Cities for calmer planning and risk.
Frequently asked questions
Are Schotten Totten and Lost Cities by the same designer?
Yes. Both were designed by Reiner Knizia and published in 1999. They share the idea of coloured suits and numbered cards, but they play very differently.
Which is easier to learn?
Both can be taught in a few minutes. Schotten Totten's only subtle rule is claiming a stone early; Lost Cities' only subtle part is its scoring, where each expedition starts at minus 20 and wager cards multiply the result.
Which is more interactive?
Schotten Totten. Every stone is contested directly by both players. In Lost Cities you each build your own expeditions, and the main interaction is through discards your opponent can pick up.
Is Lost Cities a good game for couples?
Yes, it is often recommended as one, because it is calm and you mostly race your own plans. Schotten Totten is better if you both enjoy a more confrontational duel.
Can I play them online?
Schotten Totten can be played free on this site against the AI or a friend. Lost Cities has an official online version on Board Game Arena.